CO2 and Freight : Evidence from the Echo survey

Freight is an important source of CO2 emissions. In France, there is a will to reduce transports emissions (Grenelle of Environment). The objective of this research is to quantify the freight CO2 emissions by sectors of activity and to assess the influence of logistical practices on freight transport energy consumption and CO2 emissions. For this research, we utilize the French 2004 shipper survey. This latter describes the characteristics of 3000 shippers, of 10000 shipments, and of 20000 different legs of the transport chains. Using this survey, we computed the energy consumption of each consignment, leg by leg and then summed it on the transport chain. This energy or CO2, when related to the tonne-kilometres gives the unitary consumption, in grams of oil equivalent per tonne-kilometre (goe/tkm) or unitary emission of the shipment. This data give us some results by type of activity and by mode. We will try to identify Activity types with similar levels of emissions of CO2. About the perspectives of this research in progress, we want to assess potential emission mitigation and test impacts’ measures like the impact of a carbon tax.